jonbryon Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 I've a feeling I might be asking quite a few questions of this group... I'm making the CH-46E in this image, from AOA : The rotor blades are pretty worn, but what I don't know is what colour they wore down to. It is metallic, or grey? Any help is appreciated Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 I would lean grey as they should be a fiberglass material. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonbryon Posted October 5, 2022 Author Share Posted October 5, 2022 13 hours ago, Tank said: I would lean grey as they should be a fiberglass material. Thanks. That what I would have thought, but a CH-46 mech on FB has just informed me it should be metallic, so I'll go with that. Cheers Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 (edited) I find it unusual that they faded to a metallic colour considering they were made from fibreglass. This picture shows various shades of Blacks through Greys. Edited October 5, 2022 by scotthldr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Ok, thanks for the update. What I was reading said the E model was fiberglass and I believe the earlier versions and the F where metal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonbryon Posted October 5, 2022 Author Share Posted October 5, 2022 I have to confess to being a bit confused. 157664 was originally an F, but should have had fibreglass blades by 2006? Here's some better images from the instructions. I think you can see why I'm tempted to go with a very dull metallic colour: Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Ch-46’s are confusing. As I recall it went A, D, F, E, Bullfrog E. Heck that bird was built in 1969, 37 yrs before the 06 photos. I am trying to find a document I have on all the 46 changes I was sent years ago. I get the confusion, I think I would be tempted with a dull metallic color. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 I always understood that the metal blades were those with square-cut roots, and those with angled roots were the composite type. That's certainly the case with other helos, such as Chinook, Sea King, H-53 variants... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 I’m not seeing any sort of Metallic finish on the blades in any of the above pictures, just heavily weathered and faded Black🤷♂️ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonbryon Posted October 5, 2022 Author Share Posted October 5, 2022 1 hour ago, scotthldr said: I’m not seeing any sort of Metallic finish on the blades in any of the above pictures, just heavily weathered and faded Black🤷♂️ Well, surely you agree the highlighted sections aren't black, weathered, faded or otherwise? Unless I'm missing something really obvious? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonbryon Posted October 5, 2022 Author Share Posted October 5, 2022 Here are some photos I've found of 157667 which would indicate a very light brownish grey would be correct: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 The section near the middle of that rear blade suggests the Marines may have done the same as the RAF does on its Chinooks... ....used 'Blade Tape', applied in sections along the leading edges - might well explain why that particular area appears 'unworn'... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonbryon Posted October 5, 2022 Author Share Posted October 5, 2022 3 minutes ago, andyf117 said: The section near the middle of that rear blade suggests the Marines may have done the same as the RAF does on its Chinooks... ....used 'Blade Tape', applied in sections along the leading edges - might well explain why that particular area appears 'unworn'... That's good info - thanks. Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 (edited) The areas that you’re referring to(I think) are the leading edges of the blades and show the usual weathering and wear of the outer cover wrap revealing the underlying material which in this case is a fibre glass composite so yes a creamy/brown colour. Some blades on other types of helicopters do have a metal anti wear edge to them, but I don’t see it on these. Edited October 5, 2022 by scotthldr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Jon, As a Marine Helicopter mechanic I hope I can shed some light here for you. The blades on Marine CH-46's whether they are fiber glass of metal blades were always painted black. The forward area you are seeing that is "metallic" is the nickel abrasion strip used on the blades for sand/rocks protection from erosion in high dusty environments. NAVAIR Spec calls out FS38078 Flat Black for the rotor blades. As they erode, or get dirty they may appear to turn grayish over time. But they start out black. The pictures you have above of the CNATT CH-46 is a good example of a "clean" new "training" airplane and the blades are black. If the NAVAIR Spec has changed on the blades I didn't see it, and the Phrogs have been retired for a few years now, but in the 33 years I was around CH-53's and CH-46's they were flat black. (1985-2018 was my stint in the Marines.) r/Dan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonbryon Posted October 5, 2022 Author Share Posted October 5, 2022 26 minutes ago, YF65_CH53E said: Jon, As a Marine Helicopter mechanic I hope I can shed some light here for you. The blades on Marine CH-46's whether they are fiber glass of metal blades were always painted black. The forward area you are seeing that is "metallic" is the nickel abrasion strip used on the blades for sand/rocks protection from erosion in high dusty environments. NAVAIR Spec calls out FS38078 Flat Black for the rotor blades. As they erode, or get dirty they may appear to turn grayish over time. But they start out black. The pictures you have above of the CNATT CH-46 is a good example of a "clean" new "training" airplane and the blades are black. If the NAVAIR Spec has changed on the blades I didn't see it, and the Phrogs have been retired for a few years now, but in the 33 years I was around CH-53's and CH-46's they were flat black. (1985-2018 was my stint in the Marines.) r/Dan Dan, This is great - thank you for such a thorough reply. Does that mean the eroded leading edge should be a metallic colour (the nickel strip)? Cheers Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 1 hour ago, jonbryon said: Dan, This is great - thank you for such a thorough reply. Does that mean the eroded leading edge should be a metallic colour (the nickel strip)? Cheers Jon Jon, Yes the nickel strip needs to be silver colored. Unless you want to assume the blade tape has been installed to slow the erosion down, but with in a few flights this tape shows erosion as well. Hope this helps. Gunny Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Here are a couple of shots of the CH-53K rotor blade, brand new of course, but it gives you an idea on how the nickel strip is incorporated into the leading edge of the blades. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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